Why Are There So Many Ukrainians in Canada?

Canada is home to one of the largest Ukrainian populations outside of Ukraine. According to the 2016 census, over 1.3 million people identified as having Ukrainian heritage. How did this happen?

Ukrainians began migrating to Canada in large numbers at the end of the 19th century. Most of them were peasants from Galicia and Bukovyna, which were then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. They left due to economic hardships and land shortages, searching for a better life. This was mainly labor migration.

The Canadian government actively encouraged immigration because it needed a workforce, particularly to settle the prairies. Between 1891 and the early 20th century, around 170,000 Ukrainians arrived in Canada.

The second wave of migration followed World War I. Many Ukrainians left due to political changes and socio-economic factors:

During the interwar period, about 68,000 Ukrainians immigrated to Canada. This wave included not only peasants but also workers and intellectuals.

The third wave was primarily political. After World War II, many intellectuals, scientists, artists, and soldiers fled Ukraine because they could not return to the Soviet Union without facing repression. Among them were many prisoners of war whom the Soviet government considered traitors.

During this period, around 34,000 Ukrainians found refuge in Canada. Many of them had anti-Soviet views, making them unwelcome in the USSR.

After the fall of the USSR in 1991, many Ukrainians, particularly those with higher education or technical skills, faced economic difficulties due to mass factory closures. Some took advantage of Canada’s open immigration policies to move there.

However, the largest wave of Ukrainian migration in history occurred following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. From March 2022 to December 2025, nearly 300,000 Ukrainian refugees arrived in Canada through the CUAET program (Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel).

Canada was attractive to early Ukrainian immigrants due to government policies that promised land and job opportunities. However, life was often harder than expected, and many could not afford to return home.

Despite years of poverty and tough living conditions, the first Ukrainian immigrants eventually succeeded through hard work. They later helped newcomers by establishing churches, schools, and cultural organizations, which eased the adaptation process.

Today, Ukrainians in Canada are an active and influential community. They have a strong diaspora, continue to support Ukraine, and work to preserve their culture.

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